Many in the construction industry are glad that the recession has begun to fade away in the rear-view mirror. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1 that the economic slowdown cost the construction sector some one and a half million jobs between 2007 and 2009 alone. With the economy gaining steam, however, construction projects are back on the front page of federal and state spending projects. The state of Virginia in particular has exciting construction slated for 2015, in no small part due to its proximity to Washington, D.C. What are the best construction sectors in Virginia that will benefit from a large variety of new projects? These may provide jobs to those who have completed training at a welding school and are ready for employment.

Offices

Virginia Business notes that the office construction sector hasn’t recovered quite as well due to the scarcity of new office demand. That doesn’t mean that no offices are in construction, however, and Tyson’s Corner in particular is experiencing a boom. A ten-story, $100 million office tower is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015. It will tap into the nearby Silver Metro Rail lines running up and down the state. For those who want to work in the new tower, an estimated 700 new apartment units are slated to go up in the same area over the next year.

Medical

With the development of the Affordable Care Act, the medical community is reaping the benefits of increased spending through new insurers, both public and private. One example of the boom is the expansion of the Inova Fairfax Hospital, which expects to work through the year on a new children’s medicine unit. The hospital expects to open its doors in 2016 after the completion of the $850 million expansion. Existing upgrades on the Inova Hospital that have been ongoing for the past five years include a an eleven-story surgical tower and a twelve-story replacement for the current women’s hospital, with the official ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for February of next year.

Community Building

With the wealth of rivers, islands, and inlets that Virginia has to offer, connecting populations to one another is critical for development. When infrastructure breaks down, as it always does, the need to rebuild fast is paramount. WKTR News reports that the Rudee Inlet Connector Walk project will create a ten-foot-long walking platform over the Marina District of Virginia Beach to connect the number of stores, restaurants, and businesses that sit on the waterfront. New construction efforts along the Rudee Walk include a four-star hotel, upscale condos, and public parking for all who come down to the beach district.

Civil Engineering

As with all other parts of the country, construction will always be needed along the span of highways that are in need of updating. The Gainsville Route 29 project is one such interchange that’s long since been in desperate need of an upgrade. Throughout 2015, construction will take place on the interchange, in order to reduce the traffic congestion that has plagued the Gainsville region. VirginiaDot reports this is one of the largest new construction projects in the entire state. This project is expected to include removing old traffic signals to put in new wiring and lights, providing a ten-foot shared use path and a five-foot concrete sidewalk to alleviate both traffic congestion and pedestrian congestion once the roads are in high use.

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Opportunities for Skilled Trades Workers

What these construction projects translate to is expanding opportunities for construction, welding and other skilled trades workers. As the United States starts to see economic recovery, the construction industry will need more qualified workers to build these important infrastructure projects. Virginia is just one state experiencing construction growth. If you are interested in seeking welding training, don’t hesitate to contact TWS today for more information.

1. http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2011/04/art4full.pdf

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Accredited School, ACCSC. TWS-Jacksonville located at 1750 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32216 is recognized by ACCSC as a satellite location of TWS-Jacksonville located at 3500 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32216. Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center (TWSTC) in Houston and TWS-Jacksonville are branch campuses of Tulsa Welding School, located at 2545 E. 11th St., Tulsa, OK 74104. Tulsa, OK campus is licensed by OBPVS and ASBPCE. Jacksonville, FL campus is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2331. TWSTC and TWS in Tulsa, OK are approved by TWC. TWS in Jacksonville is licensed by the Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration, License No. C-668. Licensure indicates only that minimum standards have been met; it is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality. Licensure is not equivalent to or synonymous with accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. TWS in Jacksonville is also regulated by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Office for Career and Technical Schools, 10 N. Senate Ave, Suite SE 308, Indianapolis, IN 46204; OCTS@dwd.in.gov; 317-234-8338 or 317-232-1732; http://www.in.gov/dwd/2731.htm. GI Bill® Eligible (check with local campus for specific eligibility). The AOSWT program is an Associate of Occupational Studies degree program and is not an academic degree. The AOSWT program is not approved for the following states: CO, GA, LA, MN, and TX. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who complete our programs, and other important information, please visit our website at: http://www.weldingschool.com/student-resources/regulatory-information/.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

For students who started and completed their training during the 12-month period for which 150% of normal time for completion has elapsed and who attained employment in their field of study as outlined on our annual ACCSC accreditation report dated July, 1, 2106. Total number of graduates employed in the field for all TWS campuses (1304), divided by total number of eligible graduates (1641), equals 79%.

*According to 2015 IPEDS data TWS has the largest total combined enrollment of students for all post-secondary schools in the U.S. with the designated largest program of CIP Code Welding Technology/Welder.

**Financial aid available to those who qualify. Check with campus for scholarship eligibility.

1 Total number of estimated graduates for TWS calculated based on historic data available as of 1/20/16.

2 Tulsa area annual mean wage is $45,470, Jacksonville area annual mean wage is $39,950 and Houston area annual mean wage is $49,860 for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers (514121) reported by BLS as of May 2016 http://data.bls.gov/oes. Average starting salary for Professional Welder is $33,415 for TWS Tulsa, $31,764 for Jacksonville, and TWSTC is $34,257 for graduates employed during the 12 month period of 7/1/15-6/30/16.